Local

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
If there ever was a polar opposite of the snow that fell three weeks ago in Lancaster County, this week’s snow storm was it.
The former, much anticipated and brief, came the day after Christmas, settling postcard beautiful. The roads, for the most part, left unscathed and open.
Then there was this one, drab and gray, a snow event that started off lovely enough, but soon turned to sleet and freezing rain, leaving roads nearly impassible and slick as hockey rinks. The effects are still being felt.

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
INDIAN LAND – Just two days after Lancaster County Council approved first reading of the ordinance to establish the Indian Land Fire Protection District, you might think the Indian Land Action Council (ILAC) would be starting to relax their campaign.
Not so.
Instead, the group held another Q&A session on the subject at the Del Webb Library on Thursday night, this time drawing about 45 community members. That’s more than four times the number at its Q&A at the same location last month.

“Sir, please empty your pockets and step through the scanner.”
The U.S. Capitol policeman held out a bucket into which I quickly placed my watch, wedding ring, wallet and phone. My bag and coat took a trip through an X-ray machine and I spent quite a few minutes having my various forms of ID scrutinized.
With my hands outstretched, I was wanded with a metal detector and only then was I finally cleared to head into the Longworth Building, a large office structure sitting in the U.S. Capitol’s backyard.

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
The Lancaster County Forfeited Land Commission has agreed to move forward with a proposal by Charlotte-based real estate developers to purchase Indian Land’s troubled Edenmoor residential development.
The announcement came during a commission meeting Friday with representatives of Citizens Homes Inc. and Reilly Properties, a partnership interested in buying 222 Edenmoor parcels. The Edenmoor land became available for bid in early December.
In winning the bid, the companies beat out L Star of Raleigh.

Jesef Williamsjwilliams@thelancasternews.com
Seven people, including five Republicans, will seek the open District 16 state Senate seat, which was vacated last month by Mick Mulvaney.
Filing for the post ended Monday.
Greg Gregory, who served as the District 16 state senator from 1992 to 2007, decided last week to vie for the post once again. Brian Carnes and Rob McCoy are the two other Lancaster County Republicans running.
Fort Mill residents Wendy Petzel and Mike Short round out the field of Republicans.

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
Angelo Constantine, 74, said he could hardly believe what he was reading when he opened the letter he got Dec. 19 from the Social Security Administration.
There, on official letterhead, he said, was the bad news: “The state of South Carolina will no longer pay your Medicare medical insurance premium after December 2010. You must pay the premiums beginning January 2011.”

Lancaster County School district students and staff will get a second snow day on Wednesday.
School officials announced Tuesday afternoon that schools would be closed for a second day due to icy conditions.
Black ice is expected to be problem on many roads at least throughout Wednesday morning.
No decision has been made yet as far as school on Thursday.

Crews are still cleaning up area roads after a massive winter storm dumped several inches of snow on the county earlier this week.
County Administrator Steve Willis said road conditions on major highways are starting to clear up, though ice and snow remain on most secondary roads throughout the county.

Lancaster County School District schools will be closed Tuesday because of the snow.
Students in the district were out today, but not because of the snow. They were already scheduled to be off for a teachers workday.
Six inches are more of snow has been recorded in the county, and road conditions vary.
Driving conditions are expected to worsen tonight, as the snow has changed to a freezing drizzle. At least one-tenth of an inch of ice is expected to accumulate on top of the snow. Expect roads to be icy tonight and into Tuesday morning.

A collection of state quarters on a small table. A New York Yankees baseball cap atop a pile of paperwork. A personalized box of macaroni and cheese inside an empty cabinet.
The collection of items may seem odd, but each holds a special meaning to newly installed U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney.